Kausani.. In the rainbow of mountains

© Abhinav Sharma

My fascination with sunrises continues and it takes me this time to Kausani, a hill station in the remote stretch of Uttrakhand. A couple of days stay here at the Gandhi ashram was a wonderful experience. However an early rise on one of these days to witness the sunrise happens to be the highlight of the tour. 

I didnt had the sun in my direct view and perhaps this was the advantage. For the emerging light happened to graze the waves of mountains with vivid colours. The red morning was swiftly sweeping away the blues of the night and I stood the witness of this cosmic play. In a bunch of seconds, I have seen so much beauty that I can behold it for a lifetime.

Journey is my destination

Setting forth on to land unknown
aversions grazed and curiosity grown;

Acquiring the road as a welcome mat
all I have is a blue jeans and a crumpled hat;

Climbing the mountains, diving into sea
didn't knew best things in the world are actually free;

What’s the purpose? What’s the aim?
I lose these questions as I loose my name;

Saw people looking at me with a surprise look
I tell them, I am living the pages of a fairy book;

As the sun leaves me with a troupe of cloud
they think i am lost, but the truth! I just found;

When I look back, its all a pale blur
except for that one moment, when I parted ways with her;


and I still remember my words -

Few things in life are beyond justification,
let me go beloved! Journey is my destination.

Its official... India's best chai

view of the ganges from the cafe

My search for a 'ideal' café ends here at The Office in Rishikesh. While I have the best ever masala chai in one of my hands, the other hand is all full with their unique apple and chocolate banana samosas. The wall of the balcony (overlooking the Ganges) is pasted with their tea & coffee menu. The contents each are like different methods of Nirvana... choose whichever you like or mix it :-). The view from the balcony is awesome and very peaceful. 
Being at the cafe and just staring at the Ganges, I always feel very content, self satisfied and all good about myself. Its just that next time when I go there, I will try to be in similar state of mind but without having any samosas by my side :-)

One life for this experience??? I am on..

On my way to Gurukul...

A quick post dedicated to the kids at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh. I remember how my request for a pose was turned down by this kid and he slowly shied away from the scene. I still managed few candid shots of which this is the one I like in perticular.

Silhouetted against the river.. Rishikesh

I folded my jeans and planted my feet in the shivery waters of the Ganges. The contact sparked a rush of blood upwards into my body, unsettling the dogmas that I carry within. My credos certainly could not bear the purity of the moment and shattered like a glass pane. Suddenly, I could see through my identity.

A positive start! I am sure.

Ganges manifests a grandeur at Rishikesh which is not visible anywhere else throughout her course. Perhaps this happens because it is here that the river liberates her self from the rough course of the hills and prepares for a joyride into the plains. The river actually celebrates the battles won in the Himalayas. She indeed looked cheerful and I intended to utilize that moment and initiate a dialog with her, maybe find out few of her godly secrets.

The water was gleaming in the setting sun. The river seemed to be full of pride and why not, for the awareness of source and destination was reflected in every drop of twinkling water.

Did she not know that sooner her existence is about to perish into the vast sea?

I reckon that she did, but the very joy of the present moment superseded the premonitions. She seemed to be completely ignorant of the future. Actually she was too engrossed in playing with the fading sunlight then to think about anything else. I was clueless as to how the river manages such grace so spontaneously. All I could do was to envy her. A bit confused, my attention was diverted to a bunch of rapids at the far end of the stream. The river was perhaps laughing at my confusion. “Can I ever have her secret that makes her so free and easy?” I thought within myself. Being a meager identity as compared to the river, it was best for me to surrender myself in order to find those answers. I pleaded to her, “Help me to be like you.”

The river kept flowing and didn’t respond. Or did it?

I melted further into the river determined not to leave without an answer. A gush of wind passed over. The wind, moving downstream paced the flow of water sort of emphasizing the flow. Quite elegantly, the river had communicated its secret to me. It was the FLOW.

I wasn’t completely mindful of my realization until the river started talking to me…

“I originate from a source hidden deep within the valleys. Although in oblivion, those glaciers are the source of all my charm. Thumping into grueling terrain, and crashing onto rocks, I get the liberty of letting out myself only once I flow into the plains. All the while, religiously, I keep flowing.

From your point of view, I flow towards the ocean. This is ignorance on your part. The truth is, I JUST FLOW.

From your point of view, my destination is the ocean. This is again ignorance. My friend! The truth is, JOURNEY IS MY DESTINATION.

Like me, you have a source hidden deep within yourself. Your outer skin, the body and the senses might resemble a river and its branches. Connect with your source and let the river flow. Celebrate the numerous blessings that are bestowed upon you while you flow. And as you plunge into the vast sea of death, don’t be dejected, for the life cycle will repeat itself. The spirits rises to heaven simply to pour down again as the rain livens up the river afresh.”

A drop of dew hit my eyelids and made me come out of myself. I realized it actually started to rain. Fresh shot of life for the river and for me.

I chased the sun... this time to Varanasi

Straight out of my blanket, I am heading towards the river. My foggy itinerary is to walk along the Ghats of Varanasi and witness the sunrise that will happen somewhere in between. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world is about to behold another day in its vivacious life. The sunrays that had just hit the holy land had been the trigger of life for almost 3500 years now. 
The morning sun travels fast and it’s conflicting to watch it from the place where time has almost stood still. But this day too, shall pass and this holy city may or may not grow in appearance but it will definitely grow within, in spirits.
I wish to be part of its history through my photographs.

Beachy Head - a walk to remember

Somewhere in the summers of 2010. 

 I was a bit scared. 

It took me days to settle in the city life of England. A trip all alone to the countryside required a bit of self-convincing. Thankfully, I am good at self-convincing tricks. I set off from my home for the trip. My skepticism was further nourished as I boarded the double-decker bus. I was the first one to board the bus and even the driver greeted me with astonishment as to why I am so early. However, my grit soon overpowered my skeptics and I congratulated my self for being the first one on the bus and been able to grab the front most seat of the upper deck.

This bus by Brighton and Hove Coach Company is a special summer initiative for tourists, which will take them on a day’s trip to and fro between Brighton and Eastbourne, two coastal towns in south England. At 5 bucks all inclusive, it was a fabulous deal. The 2 hour ride is literally parallel to the sea front, cruising along the chalk heads of southEngland. I was immensely excited to see the first glimpses of English countryside, hoping a refreshing change from the hassle of London.

And then the bus finally started rolling over Brighton sea front towards the country side. The view throughout the journey was breathtaking. A narrow one lane road pierced through the British farms and grazing grounds taking us towards Peachhaven, Seaford and Seven Sisters Country Park, a series of chalk cliffs by the English Channel. Thereby, the road floated on top of cliffs, parallel to the English Channel. I finally boarded off at Beachy Head, the highest of the cliffs. It was here that I met the most beautiful person in my life, ME.

As I stepped down the bus, I realized that the engine of the bus had to really do little labor to move it. The fierce wind blowing around the area was enough to ward of the bus, let alone a person. I somehow managed to stand still and roamed 360 to get a panoramic view of the area. The lush green grasses along the road kept swirling around with each stroke of heavy brisk air, perfectly imitating the nearby ocean. The blue sky would have been left out in the act had it not made friends with the clouds. The impartial wind gave the sky its share of animation in terms of ever moving clouds. It was bliss to watch.

While I was strolling along the cliffs one after the other, the experience was out of this world. Walking against the wind, the sound of the thrashing breeze against my body competed with the sound of water hitting the cliff (did I compare myself to the cliff ??). There were numerous couples sitting along the edges looking towards the ocean, comparing its depth with that of their love. The air hardly smelt of romance. It was too fierce to induce romantic feelings, but then maybe true romance is fierce. I smiled and moved on.

Tired of the trekking, I sat for a while along the edges and formally introduced myself to the ocean. I received no reply. I did not complain. For its infinite vastness and depth, the sea would take some time to absorb my messages. At a distance, ocean’s blue merged with that of the sky, negating any visual difference. Visually, I was on top of sky. I wanted to stop here, at this very particular moment, forever. 

Make me a lighthouse rooted at this very heaven on earth. I would peacefully radiate forever, attracting more and more travelers towards me.